Confidence is an important trait for followers of Christ to develop. As Christians, our confidence comes from God and allows us to live boldly and share our faith with others. In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore what the Bible teaches about confidence, including key verses and principles.
Introduction
Confidence is defined as “full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing.” As Christians, our ultimate confidence is in God and His promises to us.
When we have confidence in God, we are able to:
- Trust in God’s plan and provision for our lives
- Boldly obey God’s calling and commands
- Persevere through difficult trials and circumstances
- Share our faith and testify about God’s work in our lives
However, many Christians struggle with a lack of confidence rooted in fear, doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Thankfully, Scripture provides us with many truths and encouragements that can build our confidence in Christ.
In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore key Bible passages about confidence and identify principles and applications to help believers grow in Christ-centered assurance and boldness.
Key Takeaways:
- Our confidence comes from God, not ourselves
- God desires for His followers to be confident in Him
- Confidence enables us to courageously obey, persevere, and share our faith
- Lack of confidence is often rooted in fear, doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem
- Scripture encourages us to be confident in God’s love, power, and promises
- Growing in confidence requires renewing our minds according to biblical truth
Now, let’s explore what the Bible teaches about confidence in greater detail.
- Introduction
- Confidence Comes From God, Not Ourselves
- God Desires for His Followers to Be Confident in Him
- Confidence Enables Us to Obey, Persevere, and Share Our Faith
- Lack of Confidence Is Rooted in Fear, Doubt, Anxiety, and Low Self-Esteem
- Scripture Encourages Us to Be Confident in God's Love, Power, and Promises
- Growing in Confidence Requires Renewing Our Minds According to Biblical Truth
- Conclusion
Confidence Comes From God, Not Ourselves
Human beings often struggle with confidence rooted in their own abilities, appearance, achievements, or possessions. However, Proverbs 3:26 explains the true biblical source of confidence:
For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:26)
This verse tells us that God Himself will be our confidence. Our assurance does not come from ourselves, but from trusting in Him.
Hebrews 3:6 echoes this truth, stating that confidence comes from holding on to our faith in God:
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:6)
As believers, we can have complete confidence in God. He is faithful, He is in control, and He cares for us. Our confidence is rightly placed in Him, not in our own abilities.
God Desires for His Followers to Be Confident in Him
Not only is God the true source of confidence – He actually desires for us to have complete assurance and boldness in Him.
The apostle Paul wrote:
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we can come before God with confidence and boldness as His children. We do not need to be ashamed, uncertain, or afraid.
Paul also prayed:
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)
Part of God’s will and desire for every believer is for us to be “strengthened with all power” and live with “great endurance and patience.” This happens as we grow confident in the knowledge of God’s glorious power working within us.
Confidence Enables Us to Obey, Persevere, and Share Our Faith
Why is confidence so important for followers of Christ? Confidence empowers us to courageously obey God, persevere through trials, and share our faith with others.
Consider Jesus’ boldness in proclaiming the kingdom of God across Israel.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)
Jesus modeled total confidence in the Father as He announced the arrival of God’s kingdom. The Gospels portray Him as unwavering in obeying the Father’s will, persevering through intense persecution, and testifying about His identity as the Son of God.
As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus’ example. Confidence in our identity, calling, and God’s presence enables us to courageously share the Gospel, walk in holiness, and fulfill our God-given purpose.
The apostle Paul wrote:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Sharing the Gospel requires tremendous confidence that God has called us and will sustain us through opposition and hardship. As we grow in boldness, we become more effective ministers of the Good News.
Lack of Confidence Is Rooted in Fear, Doubt, Anxiety, and Low Self-Esteem
While Scripture urges us to be confident, many Christians struggle with a lack of assurance in their walk with Christ. Where does this deficiency come from?
Often, lack of confidence is rooted in:
- Fear – of failure, people’s opinions, the future
- Doubt – in God’s goodness, power, or personal love for us
- Anxiety – about circumstances, health, safety of loved ones
- Low self-esteem – negative view of self, feeling inadequate
Each of these issues can erode our trust in God’s sovereignty, care, and power in our lives. As a result, we become fearful, uncertain, and struggle to boldly live out our faith.
For example, Moses initially felt unqualified to follow God’s call to lead Israel out of Egypt:
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
His lack of confidence came from anxiety about his own abilities and identity. Thankfully, God reassured Moses and equipped him to accomplish the task.
Many other followers of God struggled with confidence at different points, including Gideon (Judges 6), Elijah (1 Kings 19), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1). God worked patiently with each one, building their trust in His empowering presence.
Just like these biblical heroes, a lack of confidence should not disqualify us from God’s service. Scripture contains many encouraging truths to help us overcome fear and anxiety.
Scripture Encourages Us to Be Confident in God’s Love, Power, and Promises
While our confidence wavers, God remains constant. To build unshakable assurance, we must continually renew our minds according to biblical truth that affirms God’s trustworthiness.
Here are some key Bible verses about confidence to meditate on:
God’s Love:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
God’s Power:
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
God’s Promises and Help:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Our Identity and Calling in Christ:
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Meditating on such verses builds faith and confidence in our hearts. God also uses the encouragement and testimonies of fellow believers to increase our boldness, as Paul described:
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17)
As we renew our minds and receive encouragement, our confidence grows.
Growing in Confidence Requires Renewing Our Minds According to Biblical Truth
Becoming a confident believer requires filling your mind and heart with God’s truth, not the ever-changing beliefs of the world. As Romans 12:2 explains:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Just as physical exercise strengthens our bodies, consistently meditating on Scripture strengthens our confidence in God. Here are some practical tips:
- Read the Bible daily – Commit to reading Scripture for at least 15-20 minutes per day
- Memorize key verses – Committing verses to memory enables meditation throughout the day
- Apply truth – Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply verses and biblical principles in your life and circumstances. This builds faith as you experience God’s reality.
- Receive instruction – Listen to Bible-based sermons, teachings, and podcasts from trusted Christian sources
- Study biblical heroes – Learn from the examples of faithful biblical figures who overcame adversity through confidence in God
- Pray Scripture – Pray God’s own words back to Him. Claim His promises over your life, family, and future.
As we immerse ourselves in God’s truth, our confidence will grow steadily. Remember that this is a lifelong journey. Our assurance deepens each day as we walk with Christ.
Conclusion
Confidence is essential for living boldly and sharing our faith as Christians. Thankfully, Scripture provides us with many truths and encouragements that can build our confidence in Christ alone. As we renew our minds according to biblical truth, we grow in trust in God’s love, power, and promises. We can overcome fear, doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem through continually growing in knowledge of who God is and who we are in Him. When our confidence wavers, run to the unchanging anchor of God’s Word. With Christ as the source of our assurance, we can walk steadfastly in our calling and bring glory to God.
